Slough

Slough's population expanded in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in housing tenure, relationships and family life.

The population passed 140,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Slough increased by 18%, from about 119,000 to 140,000.

The addition of just over 21,000 people means this area's population was the second-fastest-growing in the South East and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Slough was home to, on average, 31 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the South East's third-most densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Slough

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Slough decreased by one year, from 33 to 32 years.

This urban area had the third-lowest average age in the South East and remained younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 6,200 children under the age of nine years, while the population between 70 and 79 years decreased by just over 600.

About 16% of people in Slough are aged under nine years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Slough by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in home ownership

Slough saw England's largest fall in the proportion of households that owned their home.

In 2011, just over one in two (53%) households in Slough owned their home, compared with 66% in 2001. The percentage of privately rented homes increased from 11% to 24%.

Isles of Scilly saw England's next largest rise in the proportion of households that owned their home (from 40% to 42%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

The rate of home ownership in Slough decreased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of households in Slough, the South East and England that owned their home, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

Slough saw England's second-largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) households in Slough had a single parent, compared with 8.7% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising a married couple remained close to 34%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of single-parent households occurred in Enfield (from 11% to 17%).

The percentage of households with a single-parent in Slough increased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Slough, the South East and England that had a single parent, March 2001 and March 2011

Families in Slough

Slough saw England's third-largest fall in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just over one in two (51%) households in Slough had no children, compared with 56% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 34% to 39%.

England's largest decrease in the proportion of households without children occurred in Barking and Dagenham (from 55% to 48%) followed by Redbridge (from 56% to 50%).

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Slough

The number of people in Slough from the White ethnic groups decreased from about 76,000 in 2001 to just over 64,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 64% to 46% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Slough from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 34,000 in 2001 to just under 56,000 in 2011 (from 28% to 40%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 6,000 to just over 12,000 (from 5.1% to 8.6%).

About 4,800 people (2.3%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from just under 2,800 in 2001 (3.4%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Slough decreased by 18 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Slough by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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